China COVID outbreaks widen as mass testing turns up more cases

Beijing: China’s COVID-19 cases continued to climb over the weekend with hundreds of infections detected in Anhui province where two counties were already in lockdown.

The country reported 385 local cases on Saturday, with mass screening resulting in more than 290 cases found in Anhui province alone. A lockdown was imposed in Lingbi country in northeastern Anhui from Friday afternoon, while the neighbouring Si county conducted its sixth mass testing on Sunday.

While China seems to have brought earlier outbreaks in mega cities Shanghai and Beijing under control, its COVID-Zero goal is facing a test again in its eastern provinces. Shanghai’s neighbouring Jiangsu province reported 59 cases on Saturday.